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SINGAPORE: Some events at the upcoming 33rd SEA Games will be shifted to Bangkok after days of severe flooding in the southern Thai province of Songkhla.<\/span><\/p>\n The Games organising committee on Thursday (Nov 27) approved the venue changes due to the floods, which caused “damage and impacted readiness”. Songkhla had been set to host the Dec 9 to Dec 20 <\/span>biennial multi-sport event, along with Bangkok and Chonburi.<\/span><\/p>\n The competition venues for 10 sports that were originally scheduled to take place in Hat Yai and Mueang Songkhla districts, will now be held in Bangkok.<\/span><\/p>\n They are: Muay (boxing), the men’s football qualification rounds, chess, kabaddi, wushu, pencak silat, judo, petanque, karate, billiards and snooker. Wrestling will also be moved to Chonburi.<\/span><\/p>\n “The committee emphasised that these adjustments were made to ensure safety for athletes, officials, and spectators, and to safeguard the international standards of the Games,” a statement read on Facebook.<\/span><\/p>\n “The organising committee reaffirmed that despite the venue changes, Thailand remains fully committed to delivering an efficient, well-managed, and world-class 33rd SEA Games, reinforcing the confidence of all participating nations.”<\/span><\/p>\n A government spokesperson said that flood-related deaths in Songkhla <\/span>surged from six to 55<\/span> on Thursday, bringing the overall death toll across seven provinces to at least 82 people.<\/span><\/p>\n Devastating flooding has overwhelmed southern Thailand this week, particularly in Hat Yai, near the border with Malaysia, where large areas were submerged, pushing residents to seek shelter on rooftops.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n